Theme:

Saint or Sinner?

(Or maybe a little bit of both?)

Key Preaching Verses

Luke 6.27-31: Jesus said, “But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Focus Questions

Who are you? A saint or a sinner? Or maybe a little bit of both? What is a saint of God? How can we become a saint of God? (Hint: Read carefully the Key Preaching Verse from St Luke, where Jesus clearly tells His followers how to be a saint of God!)

In a discussion on how to be a saint of God it may be useful to read about the conversion of Saint Paul and discern what it is that caused the difference between the old Saul and the brand new saint of God, Paul! (Hint: Read Acts 9.1-18). What is it that caused the transformation of Saul to become Saint Paul?

What does it mean to become a saint of God in today’s world? What are the practical, every day implications of being a saint? For example, might being a saint of God effect your worship and ministry?

Why does Jesus in today’s Gospel reading teach that the poor, the hungry and the sad will be blessed? Why are the rich, the well fed and those with a good reputation to be pitied? (Hint: I refer you to the sermon summary!)

Sermon Summary

Imagine the scene in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus goes up a mountain to pray and stays all night. The next morning He calls the disciples together and chooses twelve of them to be apostles. As they come down the mountain, there is an enormous crowd of people waiting for them, seeking healing. Jesus turns to the disciples and says “Blessed are you.” This teaching marks the beginning of a period of instruction for the disciples before Jesus sends them out on a mission (Luke 9:1-6 and Luke 10:1ff). As Jesus teaches about the life of discipleship He turns conventional human understanding upside down. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 clearly states that worldly blessings are a sign of God’s favour and worldly woes are a sign of God’s disapproval and judgement. Jesus teaches that those who weep now will laugh. Those who are hungry now will be filled. Those who are poor now will receive the riches of God’s inheritance. This is solace for those who are about to suffer for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus then goes on to condemn the comfortable. Why? The answer is that the rich have little inclination to perceive themselves as being dependent upon God, or in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Take Home Challenge

Being blessed by God and being a saint of God are one in the same thingₒₒₒ

But there’s a world of difference between the blessings of this age and the blessings of Godₒₒₒ